Marine propulsion chain



Jan. 30, 1951 F. B. ROMERO 2,539,756

MARINE PROPULSION CHAIN Filed March 1, 1946 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Jan. 30, "1951 F. B. ROMERO MARINE PROPULSION CHAIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1946 3.1 4 l l l ll. XXL r I l llrll WM M? IN VEAITCJR.

Jan. 30, 1951 F. B. ROMERO 2,539,755

MARINE PROPULSION CHAIN Filed March 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 77/, [a I i vmvrok.

Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARINE PROPULSION CHAIN Frederick B. Romero, Washington, D. C.

Application March 1, 1946, Serial No. 651,060

'7 .Glaims.

The object of this invention is to make possible a higher speed, in the movement ofv engine or motor driven boats and ships, than has ever been atta ned, at any previous time anywhere on the water surfaces of the earth. The nature of the invention is a properly constructed chain of interweb-links and web-links which are the propolling. units of the mechanism, which is lubri cated through a system built within the links and; bearings. A further object of the herewith disclosed invention is to generally improve the construction of this type of marine propulsion chain.

The: several views of the illustrative accompanying drawings reveal completely and: concise.- ly, the nature of the mechanism. Figure t is an elevation side view of the invention, showing. the proper positional relationship of the various parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the essential links and the bearings of the chain. Fig.3:is an eleva-- tionside view of the web-link. Fig. 4 is an elevation sideview of the interweb-link. Fig. 5 is an elevation Side partial view of the medial locking link, showing especiallythe axles medial end covering structure. Fig. 6 .is an elevation side: view of the chains bearing- Fig. 7 is an elevation end View of the web-link of the propulsion chain. The several views have the same part indicated by the same numeral, butnot all the: parts are numbered in all of. the views.

The detailed description isconsiderably carified by a nearly simultaneous observation of the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1, the elevation side view of the chain showing proper positional rela-- tionship between the various parts shows theweblink. I, with the concaved surface of one always directed toward the convexed surface-of the next web-link. And also, is shown the interwebelink 2,. which is always to occupy the relative position shown in this Fig. l, for the purpose of allowing a sufficient weightof water to exist in juxaposition to the concaved surface of the Web-link, in: order to make possible the maximum effectivenessofthe web-link, when the chain is used for the:

These above named pieces are shown in theplan view by Fig. 2, in which the web-link I, is.

shown with concaved and convexed surfaces of the: weoextendingbetween the chainis lateral linking parts. These lateral parts of the weblink. shown in this Fig. 2, show by the use of dotted lines, axles and bearing spaces, and above the axles and bearings spaces is seen the tanks bottoms IS. The length and breadth (relative), of these lubricating material containing tanks is shown. in Fig. 2, and the tanks eevation and a length (relative) are shown by dotted lines in.

Fig. '3. Fig. 7 shows the elevation end view of the web-link as it appears in its finished casting form; the view showing the concaved surface of. the piece. Wedge shaped portions of the tank space, exist, making continuous the space'of the" tank and the space of the ducts extendng between the tank space and the axles holes sur-- faces; also showing by the use of dotted lines in Figs. 3 and '7, are the tanks feeding'or supply ducts. The web-link as shown in this Fig. 2, has the tanks feeding ducts fitted-with a rod-plug l3. The outer end of the rod-plug is threaded so as to fit the threads of that end of the duct. At the inner end of the duct the rod-plug is enlarged to prevent excessive lateral vibration; notice the representing dotted l'nes in Fig. 3. This enlargement is longitudinally slotted to allow a back flow of oil and water that mightget into the duct between the enlargement of' the rod and the outer threaded end. This rod-- plug is practical for three purposes, one, to plug the tanks feeding duct, two, to measure the tankfs fluid content, three, to prevent easy loss of the plug; The propulsion chains for boats much larger than sport model size, are equipped with headless screw plugs instead of rod-plugs: except in one web-link, in order to avoid awkwardness, in handling. The web-links lubricat ing material containing tanks are made accessible for inspection, cleaning, and repair, by the removable plat I4, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The. removable plate has Welded onto its inner sur.: face an. eye-rod 253;. tomake possible the attach.- ment'of one end of a chain or cord, the other end of which is attached to a transversely drilled inner rod of the screw-plug H, which. removed from its place in the plate, allows the tank to become drained. The removab e plate has alongits edges, holes which fit over the threaded studs Fibrous gaskets (not I5, shownin Figs. 2 and 3. shown) are used between the approximatededges of the plate and tankwalls- The-threaded studs have fitted to them square nuts it, as shown. The web-l'nk as shown in Fig. 3, has the frontpla-te, [8, which is-held' permanently in its posi--- tion by welding along its outsidev beveled edges.

thereby; closing. thatendor thelubricatingmate rial containing tank. The tank space is made through the lateral parts of the web-link, as shown, to facilitate removal of the mold material from the casting; the web-link without the removable parts, is all one casting, see Fig. 7.

The interweb-link indicated by numeral 2, in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, is a link made with a lubricating material containing tank connected by ducts to the surfaces of the axle holes, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2, and 4. This tank is plugged above and below by the screw-plugs ll, which are held together by the chain or creosote soaked fibrous cord 12. The screw-pugs chain or cord prevents easy loss of the plugs I l. The upper plug makes possible the filling of the tank with lubricating material, and the lower plug makes possible the drainage of the tank. This interweb-link is made by casting it in two pieces, which before being welded together would make Fig. 4, look as if it had been horizontally split into halves, upper and lower. These cast halves are properly clamped together, then welded into one piece; then the whole link is carefully heat treated to make it have a maximum tensile strength.

The locking-link p ece 3, in Figs. 1, and 2, and 5, is held as shown on the axle pieces 5, by the headless screws 4; thus locking the pivoting weblinks I, and interweb-links 2, and the revolving bearings 8, into their proper places.

The axle 5, in Figs. 1, and 2, has in its medial half a triangular groove into which fits the removable key 6, which medially projects beyond the end of the axle and is pierced to make a hole through which a safety snap-hook can be passed before the key is removed, and by the safety snap-hooks chain or cord, the key 6, is kept from dropping into the water floating the yessel utilizing this propulsion chain. The removable key and axle groove make possible the introduction of lubricating material into the bearings inner space. The removable key is held in its proper place by the halved end cup 1 (see Figs. 2 and 5) which is held in its place by the countersunk flat-head studs 9, which are welded to the medial sides of the medial locking-links 3, of the chain. The fit between the flat-head studs 9, and the halved cup I, is loose enough to permit easy hinging movement or pivoting movement of the cup halves on the studs; so that when the securing-screw I0, is removed from the lower projection of the half-cup, more distant from the head of the screw, as shown, each of the halves may be pivoted laterally from their usual juxtaposition, and thereby making it possible to remove and replace the above named key.

The bearing 8, in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, is a short cylinder with an inner space as shown by its dotted out-lines in Figs. 2, and 6. The exit holes from the bearings inner space, are shown well in Fig. 6. They are relatively small and there are eight of them; four opening onto opposite ends of the cylinder, and the sets of four axially removed from one another to the extent of 45, as shown in Fig. 6. These holes serve for the purpose of water drainage as well as for the purpose of allowing adequate distribution of the lubricant. The bearings revolve on the axles and serve as surfaces for contact of the chain on the sprocket wheels upon which the endless propulsion chain is hung. All cavernous spaces within the links and bearings of the entirely alloy metal propulsion chains, are to be well coated with anticorrosive lacquers or paints, and

likewise, all surfaces which are free from frictional movement upon one another.

The endless marine propulsion chain is to be utilized in conjunction with its related inventions of co-pending applications of Ser. No. 162,523 filed May 17, 1950; Ser. No. 648,802 filed February 14, 1946; and Ser. No. 756,346, filed June 19, 1947; and steam turbines are to be used as the source of driving power for moving the endless marine propulsion chain.

I, the inventor, am aware that the herewith written disclosure, reveals an invention of such unusual structural lines and functioning characteristics that it fulfills the requirements of patentability, as set forth in R. S. 4886; 35 U. S. C. 31 and R. S. 4888; 35 U. S. C. 33, under rules 47 and 71, of the Rules of Practice effective March 1, 1949, in the United States Patent Office; therefore,

Iclaim:

1. In an endless marine propulsion chain, a plurality of web-links, interweb-links and looking links, each of said web-links including a propulsion blade, said web links being equidistantly spaced in the chain, said interweb-link being interposed between said web-links and connected thereto by said locking links, axles connecting said web-links, interweb-links and locking links, a hollow bearing mounted on each axle and adapted to hold lubricant, each axle having a channel in communication with the interior of the hollow bearing adapted for the introduction of lubricant, a removable split end cup securing the key in the channel, the hollow interior of said bearings providing a reservoir from which lubricant may issue through open ings in the bearings to lubricate the chain.

2. An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a plurality of structural units made to fit one another in proper juxtaposition to form an endless marine propulsion chain, said plurality of structural units include web-links, interweb-links, locking links, axles, bearings, and removable keys held in axial grooves by split end cups, said web links including lubricant containing capacities made continuous to surfaces receiving lubrication by way of comparatively small ducts, said interweb-links including lubricant tanking capacities made continuous to axial surfaces to be lubricated by way of ducts, headless screws provided in said looking links whereby they look into proper position on said axles, said bearings said web-links and said interweb-links forming said endless marine propulsion chain.

3. An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a plurality of structural units fitted to one another in proper juxtaposition to form an endless marine propulsion chain, said structural units including web-links, interweb-links, looking links axles, bearings and removable keys held in axial grooves by split end cups, said web links structurally including lubricant containing capacities made continuous to lubricated surfaces by way of comparatively small ducts, said interweb-links structurally including lubricant tanking capacities made continuous to lubricated axial surfaces by way of ducts, said locking links provided with headless screws whereby they look into proper pos tion on said axles, said bearings, said web-links, and said interweb-links forming said endless marine propulsion chain, all substantially as herewith set forth.

4."An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a. plurality of links and bearings, said links including a plurality of propulsion units, the web-links, a plurality of interweb-links, a plurality of locking links, said links being held together by a plurality of axles, all of said links except said locking links having pivoting movement on said axles, said bearings revolving on said axles, said bearings being in structural form as short cylinders inwardly cavitated along and about the longitudinal axis in order to fit onto said axles and also to retain a lubricant, said inwardly cavitated bearings being provided with eight small holes, four being made at each end of said cylindrical bearings, said holes providing a means of lubrication and a mean of drainage of water, said axles having their surfaces approximately over the medial half of their lengths grooved to hold removable keys providing a means for the introduction of lubricant into the cavity of said hearing, all substantially as herewith set forth.

5. An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a plurality of links and bearings, said links including a plurality of propulsion units, the web-links, a plurality of interweb-links, a plurality of locking links, said links being held plurality of locking links, said links being held together by a plurality of axles, all of said links except the locking links having pivoting movement on said axles, said interweb-links being somewhat H-shaped in their plan view, the

central bridging portion being inwardly cavitated providing a lubricant containing space by means of ducts supplying lubricant to the surfaces of said axles, said axles and said locking links being fixed into a stationary relationship with one another by headless screws, said locking-links fixing in their proper positions the said weblinks, interweb-links, and bearings of said endless marine propulsion chain, all substantially r as herewith set forth.

'7. An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a plurality of web-links, interweb-links, locking links, headless screws, axles, and bearings, said web-links being so cast as to make the driving surface of the web, conoaved, and the opposite side convexed, the said web-links being so cast as to have their linking portions lateral to the center of said web, and said webs lateral portions extending vertically along the entire length of the linking portions, said linking portions being somewhat H-shaped and betogether by a plurality of axles, all except the locking links having pivoting movement on said axles, said web-lin--s having the web structures made with concaved surfaces providing its proper water contacting surface for forward propulsion, said web structures having convex surfaces approximately opposite to those being concaved, said web-links having their linking parts laterally positioned from said web structures, said web structure and said lateral linking parts being structurally combined making one solid structure, said web-links being inwardly provided with lubricant containing space and lubricant distributing ducts, making connection with the friction sustaining surfaces of said axles, all substantially as herewith set forth.

6. An endless marine propulsion chain comprising a plurality of links and bearings, said links including, a plurality of propulsion units, the web-links, a plurality of interweb-links, a

ing so constructed as to allow the said axles and said bearings to be fitted in close proximity to them, said bearings being short cavitated cylinders and providing the major bearing surfaces of the said endless marine propulsion chain, all substantially as herewith set forth.

FREDERICK B. ROMERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,356,743 Schmidt Oct. 26, 1920 1,452,059 Baer Apr. 1'7, 1923 1,585,225 Anthes May 18, 1925 1,757,894-. Zvirblis May 6, 1930 2,285,145 Burt June 2, 1942 

